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Earth Hour 2013: Lights being switched off around the world March 23

Time is fast approaching when billions of people around the world will switch off their lights for Earth Hour.

Actor and squad leader Nicki Gallo and a sassy team of cheerleaders are on the World Wildlife Fund-Canada Facebook page encouraging Canadians to take a stand and turn out their lights during Earth Hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 23. (LESLIE FERENC / TORONTO STAR) | Order this photo

Time is fast approaching when billions of people around the world will switch off their lights for Earth Hour sending a message they care about the environment and want action to protect it.

As a reminder of the March 23 global event, World Wildlife Fund-Canada has posted a series of sassy videos on its Facebook page (facebook.com/wwfcanada)(facebook.com/wwfcanada). Visitors to the site will get a rousing huzzah from pompom razzing cheerleaders belting out conservation “cheer-spirations” as they spread the word.

Messages like “Why does winter feel like summer? Climate change is such a bummer,” can be personalized and forwarded to family and friends.

It’s a fun way to get a serious message across to Canadians, said squad leader and Toronto actor Nicki Gallo. The page also features the Earth Hour Anthem written last year by Toronto composer Andrew Huang.

Gallo, 28, supports the cause and has participated in Earth Hour since it started in Canada in 2008. Last year, she attended a candlelight yoga class. “It’s symbolic — a small act that’s part of a bigger story,” she said adding by conserving energy and reducing her footprint through recycling, reusing and repurposing every day, “I feel like I’m making a difference.”

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Earth Hour began in Australia in 2007 when more than 2.2 million people and 2,000 businesses turned out the lights. In 2008, Toronto was the first city in the world to sign. Last year, 1.8 billion people in 152 countries and almost 7,000 cities participated, according to WWF-Canada.

Thirty-nine per cent of Canadians, or 13 million people in 511cities nationwide, joined in. During last year’s Earth Hour power use in Toronto dropped 6.8 per cent. There was a 5 per cent energy reduction in 2011, 10 per cent in 2010, 15.1 per cent in 2009 and 8.7 per cent the previous year, Toronto Hydro reported. This year, Earth Hour will be from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. A party is planned in Roncesvalles Village.

For biologist Josh Laughren, director of the WWF-C climate and energy program, participation is the key. It shows, and research confirms it, that Canadians are concerned about climate change and support the need for a national energy strategy.

Australia has already taken steps, introducing a carbon tax to protect resources which are at risk. “At some point we have to put the onus on government.” Laughren said.

Though fewer Canadians overall shut off their lights last year than in 2011 he maintains it was a temporary dip fueled in part by the global economic downturn “and a very effective lobby by fossil fuel players” from the U.S. It raised doubt about climate change and its impact. “It was disingenuous and crass, but very effective.”

But climate change is real and having an impact, Laughren said, citing wildfires and droughts in Australia, Hurricane Sandy in the U.S. and an infestation of pine beetles in British Columbia, where the forest industry has been hard hit.

“This is not just an abstract threat,” he said, adding Canada continues to ignore the hot spots like the Arctic and B.C. and the call for action..

He’s confident climate change will be tackled, but it’s a question of when. Waiting until the situation is dire and more expensive to fix doesn’t make sense.

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